Diabetic athlete Peter Van Rompaey

finishes legendary Marathon des Sables

BY ENDURANCE NEWS STAFF

The Marathon des Sables is
described by many as one of
the toughest footraces on earth.
Everything that one needs to
complete the 5-day, 5-stage 250K
foot race needs to be carried in
a backpack weighing roughly
12kg while negotiating some
of the harshest terrain
imaginable. Temperatures
can soar up to 120 degrees
Fahrenheit–dangerous
conditions for even the
most fit of runners. April
7th marked the kickoff of
the 2017 edition with 1350
athletes poised to race
through the sand dunes and
inhospitable rocky terrain
of the Moroccan Sahara
Desert. Among them was
Hammer Sponsored Athlete
Peter Van Rompaey who
set out to become just the
second diabetic athlete from
Belgium to complete the
course.

A few months prior to the
Marathon des Sables, Peter
completed a 50K training run on
the North C. Trail which winds
through the dunes of Koksijde,
Belgium. “I have said since I was
first diagnosed at age ten: diabetes
will not stop me,” he recalls. For
the last 32 years, Peter has had
to closely monitor his diet while
taking daily insulin injections to
properly balance his blood sugar.
Peter credits Hammer Nutrition for
providing the fuel he needs for his
rigorous training. HEED, Race Caps
Supreme, Mito Caps, Perpetuem,
Hammer Bars, and Recoverite
are among his favorite training
companions. The dunes of the North
C. Trail provided a tough test before
his trek to Morocco.

Peter has found a great deal of
inspiration from his fellow diabetic
Belgian athletes. During a recent
long-distance race, Peter met
Olivier Kronal from Heverlee. In
2015, Oliver succeeded in his quest
to become the first ever Belgian
with type-1 diabetes to finish the
legendary Marathon des Sables.
“That was beyond inspirational for
me,” says Peter. He also looks to
former professional soccer player
on the Belgian Anderlecht
team, Pär Zetterberg, as
someone who demonstrates
that athletes with diabetes
can compete at the highest
levels in sports.

Part of Peter’s desire to
complete the Marathon des
Sables is to raise money for
the youth department of the
Diabetes League. “I want to
raise money for camps and
awareness, but I also want
young people to know that
they can still live an active
life despite being diabetic.
I hope to raise more than
1,000 euro.”

With only four weeks before
to his departure to Morocco,
Peter was physically and
mentally ready for the wear and tear
he would subject his body to in the
desert. Figuring out how to carry
all his necessities in his backpack
was another challenge that required
serious consideration. The majority
of his backpack would be filled with
food. Room would also be needed
for a mattress and sleeping bag.
Thankfully, race directors would
provide tents at the end of each stage
with seven athletes occupying each
tent. The two large water bottles
he would carry could be refilled at
each checkpoint. Peter also had
his fueling plan dialed in with
Perpetuem, Endurolytes Extreme,
Anti Fatigue Caps, Hammer Gel and
Hammer Bars. “I carry a Freestyle
Libre, a small wireless device that
connects with a sensor on my arm
and displays my precise blood
sugar,” explains the athlete.

Peter got the green light to compete
in the race from Dr. Pascale
Abrams, Endocrine Disease
Specialist at the Saint Augustine
Hospital. Peter reassured his wife
Kristien, also a type-1 diabetic, that
he would keep her and their four
children briefed on his progress
and condition during the multi-day
event. “I was a bit scared,” confesses
Kristien.

Peter completed the grueling event
in 55:56:14, achieving his goal. His
biggest challenges were the heat,
short rest periods between stages,
wearing a 12kg (26.5 lbs) backpack,
and the limited amount of water
available to drink. Monitoring
his blood sugar was a constant
challenge and the 86K Stage-4 was
the toughest day.

When asked if he had advice for
athletes who want to participate
in the event, Peter replied, ”take
a full year to train and train on
tough terrain with 12kg (26.5 lbs)
backpack and get plenty of rest
between training sessions. Get used
to climbing on rocks and sleeping on
the ground. During your race, don’t
forget to enjoy the moment. Proper
fueling is essential for this. Go with
Hammer Nutrition!”